The act of cancelling, annulling, or withdrawing a previously made legal instrument such as a will, trust, power of attorney, or other revocable document. Revocation may be express (stating explicitly that the document is revoked) or implied (by physical destruction or making a new document that supersedes the old one).
Revocation means cancelling a legal document. If you made a will ten years ago and want to cancel it, you can revoke it by destroying it, making a new will that says "I revoke all prior wills," or simply stating in writing that the old will is cancelled.
⏱ When you'll encounter this term
- Making a new will that supersedes an old one
- Cancelling a power of attorney you previously granted
- Destroying an old will or trust document
- Major life changes requiring estate plan updates
"After my divorce, I wanted to revoke my old will that left everything to my ex-wife. My lawyer prepared a new will that began with a revocation clause: 'I hereby revoke all wills and codicils previously made by me.' This ensured my old will was completely cancelled."
⚖️ Compare: Revocation vs Amendment
Completely cancels the document. Nothing from old document remains in effect. Start fresh with new document.
Changes specific provisions only. Original document remains partially in effect. Modified rather than replaced.
💡 Why this matters
**Automatic revocation:** In most Australian states, marriage automatically revokes your existing will (unless made in contemplation of that marriage). Divorce typically doesn't revoke the whole will—it usually only invalidates gifts to your ex-spouse. These rules vary by state, so check the laws in your jurisdiction.
If you've recently married, divorced, or separated, review your will immediately. Don't assume it still reflects your wishes—or that it's even still valid.